By IANS
Lucknow : A seriously injured Royal Bengal tiger that was rescued by forest officials from a roadside in Bahraich district has died here in Lucknow zoo amid controversy whether it died due to delay in treatment.
The tiger had multiple fractures on its back. Officials said the beast sustained the injuries after it was hit by a speeding truck. They tranquillised the tiger to bring it under control.
However, the authorities took more than 36 hours to begin treatment after it was rescued Tuesday evening.
It was only on Wednesday that officials decided to shift the injured tiger to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly, which has the expertise to treat such big cats.
But strangely enough, when the truck carrying the tiger reached halfway to Bareilly, officials realised that the institute has no facility to house the animal.
It was then decided to bring back the tiger back to Lucknow zoo, where the experts from the institute could come and treat it. But by Wednesday evening when the convoy finally reached the Lucknow zoo, the tiger passed away. All through it had remained sedated.
The authorities are keeping mum on whether the tiger died due to delay in treatment and sedation or its injuries.
Tiger lovers, angered by the incident, have now raised questions about the wisdom of the officials transporting the injured tiger to Bareilly, and half way through bringing it back to Lucknow, losing precious time in the process.
Chief Conservator (Wildlife) D.N.S. Suman said the officials did their best to save the animal.
“The entire incident had only exposed the lacklustre attitude of the officials, who should have been prompt, especially when they deal with rare and endangered animals such as the tiger,” said one of the wildlife enthusiasts.
“Amidst the growing concern over the declining number of tigers in the country, the death of a tiger due to callousness of officials in Lucknow zoo is bound to create debate among the public,” he added.
The tiger is believed to have strayed from the nearby Katerniaghat Tiger Reserve that spreads across the ravines in Bahraich district.